Kindness in Time of Adversity Series 2

To my Readers: I'll be away, when I come back, I'll catch up with all of you. Thank You.

Continuation - the story so far - trip was organized and things at home were arranged after some thoughts of what "the future holds"...

"Friends show their love - in times of trouble, not in happiness" ~Euripides

Ate Amy and Uncle Allan

Before I gave up the unit, Ate Amy, a friend and a former work colleague back home in Manila, rang me to offer us a place to stay in Sydney prior to our flight. She is a very considerate and thoughtful person knowing that it takes four hours to travel from Orange to the airport by any means of land transportation. She did not know how my little girls and I would travel down to the city and to the airport from the country in just one day.

With luggage, hand-carry bag, and two little tots to tag along, she clearly pictured that it would be difficult for me to manage everything all at once for such a long flight to tackle on my own.

Though Ate Amy and I worked together in Manila, I really did not know her well there being I was new in the big city and having had come fresh from a remote province of Mindanao, a large main island of southern Philippines. It was another kind of work environment with different adjustment to deal with people and all. I was very lucky to get a clerical job in an office through friend's connection in the person of Lia Gupana. Even that too was at the time, I needed most help. And Lia did not let me down. Her help came in the least expected moment. Thank you too Lia.

(Lia, wherever you are, I hope you will bump into this blog and please know that I still remember you. Hope to get reconnected with you too for old times sake.)

Until I came to Australia, that was the time when I knew the real Ate Amy as a person in person. My ex-husband and I were newly married then and we collided into her at the Australian Consular Office in Sydney on the day I submitted my personal papers  as required by the Embassy.

I introduced my ex-husband to Ate Amy and she invited us to her place straightaway after we finished our business at the Embassy. There in her home sweet home, we met Uncle Alan, her most supportive, generous, kind-loving and cheerful husband. He's one of a kind and a very uncomplicated man I've ever met. Then on, our friendship flourish up to this day.

When Ate Amy experienced her down moments as we all have, especially at the time when Uncle Alan met inevitable work accidents, we saw to it that distance was not a reason for us not to give her support. We always made special long trips for her and offered our moral support by visiting Uncle Alan in the hospital.

Today, Uncle Alan in spite of his old age is still very strong and determined. He always springs back after a lot of falls. He is a painter by profession.

The vision of Ate Amy about us taking a respite in their place before flying to Germany made sense. I did not expect that for the last hour, the ex would drive us down to Sydney to drop us off to Ate Amy's place. But I overlooked the fact that there was something else in the other person's mind why he wanted to drive us down when my girls and I could have had taken a bus transport. I was thankful for the offer with the condition that his daughter, Judy, would be coming with us which was not a problem with me at all. I was only thinking of our hosts. Gratefully, my hosts were obliging, and they let us all in for a night.

The little girls were very excited of their coming plane ride and they were innocently and happily blabbing that they kept on chanting, "we're going to Germany" with that cute exclamatory inflection to the amusement of Ate Amy and Uncle Alan.

Our very generous hosts took us in their festive mood, preparing us food like there was going to be a family feast, and sent us to bed early for a good night's rest. The following day, we were up early, dressed up for a long flight, and our breakfast was ready on the table. Before long, we said our thank you and good bye and Ate Amy and Uncle Alan lovingly kissed us and hugged us with their blessings.

At the airport, I checked in our luggage and there was time for a cuppa so we sat down in one of those cafe near the pre-departure area. There was no word for each other between me and the ex so the wind bid its time coming in to fill the silence. My step-daughter could not say a thing either, so it was kind of a fancy mute or dumb mimicry for us adults.

Until the last hour, I was hoping that someone in that little crowd of ours would at least show his last mercy by offering kind help towards the children who were traveling with a penniless traveler. But as the Bible told in the story of Moses in the book of Exodus, God hardened the heart of Pharaoh.

I couldn't recall if there was a goodbye said or did I see a nod or fathomed something like "have a safe flight" or the two little innocent living bloods were given hugs and kisses from a bloody father, I don't know.

Boarding time was announced, the girls were in a leash with my eldest attached to my waist while the little one was in my arms, for safety measures. We were dutifully attended by the cabin crew and were seated down to our respective places right in the middle isle. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere on the plane void of any apprehensions.

My Prayerful Thanks

(a grateful tribute to Ate Amy and Uncle Alan)

People in our lives may come and go

And life in time will cease to grow

But your loving kindness brings a glow

To my broken spirit you come to know.

When times hit hard you honored me

With love and friendship kind and true

Without condition and without fail

You give them all without a flaw.

For every goodness you've accorded me

To you with blessings returned tenfold more

And abundant life and good health implored

With prayerful wish I hail Long live!

Life will always be without travails

And our friendship grow from strength to strength

Thank you dear kind sweet folks I say:

To my grave your kindness with me will lay.

@Leah Dancel, australia

9 June 2011

continuation ... the kindness aboard and while in transit ....

PS As my friend Lia was mentioned in this blog, I decided to search for her at facebook, and lo, she is there. We are now reconnected and have a few word exchange via our photos. Isn't life wonderful? Kindness in time of adversity ... what a fitting title for this blog ... more in tribute to my helpful friends. More coming..."gratitude for gratitude sake" ~Susan Deborah

This blog is also dedicated to one Special Friend and you know who you are. I even call you King! Thank you for your patience and forbearance.